Questions and Answers
Accord Dies Cold
Q. I have a 1984 Honda Accord, 5 speed with a carburetor. Well maintained and over 225,000 miles, it runs fine EXCEPT when conditions are both cold AND wet, like rainy or wet cold spring weather, or rainy and cold winter weather. Under these conditions car runs fine for about 1 mile or about to the point where it is warming up.
Then it will buck and shutter and refuse to idle, it will finally choke up and lose power. If I stop, shut it off and let it sit for about 3 minutes I can start it and it will run with no more problems. Remember, it has to be both cold AND wet for this to happen. If conditions are cold and dry or wet and warm it doesn't happen. I've changed the plug wires and had complete tune-ups but nothing helps. This has been going on for several years. What's wrong?
Thank you,
LarryA. Usually when an engine exhibits symptoms such as you describe, it's usually because of bad plug wires or distributor cap and rotor. But since you say you have replaced all of that, then the problem must lie elsewhere.
The 1984 and 1985 Hondas had a problem with carburetor icing and cold driveability. Honda came out with countermeasure kits to correct both problems. From one TSB:
Engine - Low Power In Rainy or Humid Weather
Bulletin No.: 85-008Issue Date: FEB. 22, 1985
Model: 1984 ACCORD
Applicable To: ALL
1984 Accord Carburetor Icing
(Supersedes Bulletin 84-061, dated Dec 17, 1984)PROBLEM:
Low power caused by carburetor icing in 20° F to 50° F weather. The icing may occur more often in rainy or humid weather and during engine warm-up.There are several different kits used to correct this problem depending on engine number. The best thing to do would be to go to a Honda dealer and
I think this is what is happening to your car. When you let it sit for the three minutes, the ice in the carburetor melts and then it will run fine. By this time the engine is hot enough to prevent any more icing.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
